What is Movember

Throughout the month of November, men are encouraged to grow their moustaches to raise awareness for men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Since 2004, the Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event with the goal of Movember to “Change the face of men’s health”.

The Movember Foundation raises funds to deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier, and longer lives. Movember Foundation is the only global charity focused solely on men’s health, and in 2012, the Global Journal listed Movember as one of the world’s top 100 non-government organizations.

Movember, (the month of November or no-shave November) is a month when men and women across the globe join together to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues. During Movember, men are encouraged to grow their moustaches and host a fundraising event.  Using the moustache as the driving symbol of the movement, Movember focuses on the three key areas of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.

The word Movember originated in Australia in 2003 as the idea of two friends, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, who wanted to bring mustaches back into fashion. In Australia, the mustache is spelled moustache, and the word mo is used as an informal shortening of it. The name Movember is a blend of mo and November, the month in which it takes place.

In addition to tackling key health issues faced by men, Movember Foundation is working to encourage men to stay healthy in all areas of their life, with a focus on men staying socially connected and becoming more open to discussing their health and significant moments in their lives. There are over 1,250 projects around the world funded by the Movember Foundation. The learn more or make a donation, please visit the Movember Foundation website at www.movember.com